A piece of Jefferson County history has gone on the market.
The building at 26 Mississippi Ave. in Crystal City that served as administrative headquarters for the former Pittsburgh Plate Glass factory is up for sale.
Listed at $435,000, the 1.55-acre property includes the original brick building, a later addition and 50 parking spaces. Now vacant, it has served as headquarters for the Crystal City Historical Society, as commercial office space and, most recently, as a residential facility for several years.
Real estate agent Scott Dix of Coldwell Banker-Gundaker said he sees a long list of possibilities for development of the property.
“It would make a great wedding venue,” he said. “It would be a great bed-and-breakfast, maybe a dance studio or a banquet center or a winery.”
The three-story, neo-classical brick building with its tile roof is nearly identical to another building just across the street: the former PPG hospital building, now a private residence.
The two buildings stand on either side of what was once the public entrance to the sprawling factory campus where glass was manufactured starting in the 1870s. The plant was shuttered in late 1991 and the site was razed shortly thereafter.
The building that’s up for sale is full of examples of expert work in glass, metal, wood and ceramics.
“They had these safes on two floors, for the payroll,” Dix said, indicating a small room with 16-inch concrete walls.
The building has concrete floors on every level, wrought-iron banisters with hardwood handrails on every stairway and solid-wood doors throughout. Ceilings range from 10 to 12 feet high. Many of the windows boast etched-mullion panes, likely made onsite, Dix said.
“You just don’t appreciate how solid this building is until you get in it,” he said. “It was definitely built to a high standard.”
Some of the existing bathrooms have marble flooring, and wood baseboards and trim is found throughout the building. The open attic features barrel-vaulted dormer windows with hinged frames.
“The sewer system runs around the perimeter of the building, so you can tie in just about anywhere,” Dix said. “You could have as many bathrooms as you want.”
Whoever acquires the building will take over ownership of one of the last remaining remnants of the glass factory that was the beating heart of the community during its heyday. Most families in town had at least one member employed there, and the factory whistle that could be heard all over town marked the hours of their days.
Many of the homes in the city’s Wards 1 and 2 originally were owned by the glass company, and many of the city services and amenities were subsidized by the plant.
Dix said he is optimistic about the future of the historic building.
“The price leaves room for someone to buy it and make it into something really special,” he said. “I just hope somebody can do something neat with this. It’s just got so much history to it.”
For more information or to schedule a showing, contact Scott and Denise Dix at their office at 636-931-2211, go to their website at coldwellbankerhomes.com or visit the Scott & Denise Dix Realtors Facebook page.